BJP accuses CPI-M of hypocrisy in ban on Maoists

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday accused the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) of adopting double standards on banning the Maoist extremists.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday accused the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) of adopting double standards on banning the Maoist extremists.

"The CPI-M is adopting double standards with regard to the ban on the Maoists. Why this hypocrisy?" BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said during an interaction with reporters in New Delhi.

The central government on Monday banned the Communist Party of India-Maoist across the country as security forces continued to fight rebels in Lalgarh of West Bengal. CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat, however, criticised the ban.

"After Lalgarh, the central government in its wisdom has brought out a proposal to ban the Maoists throughout the country. Now the CPI-M says this is not the way to fight the Maoists," said Naidu.

"What is the way? Why have you not adopted the way? And (CPI-M general secretary) Prakash Karat says that banning does not solve the problem and we have to address the deeper issue behind the Maoist violence. This is how some people always try to justify the violent, undemocratic and unconstitutional methods of some organisations," Naidu said.

"The CPI-M has been in power in West Bengal for 30-plus yeats. Why they have not understood and resolved the deeper issue behind the Maoist violence?" he asked.